Page 21 of A Forced Marriage
Darcy inclined his head thoughtfully. “Given the urgency, Mr. Bennet, I believe we may require a special license for the wedding. This would necessitate I journey to London.”
Mr. Bennet nodded in understanding. “I am aware of the process. The sooner, the better.”
Mrs. Bennet, whose attention had been focused on watching the smiles shared by Jane and Mr. Bingley until now, let out a small sigh. “I cannot say I am pleased that Lizzy’s wedding must be so hurried, but at least her honour is preserved.”
While they spoke, Mr. Bingley spent the better part of the visit engaged in quiet conversation with Jane, his attentions focused solely on her.
During a lull in the conversation, Mr. Bennet inquired about Mr. Collins and Mrs. Bennet replied, saying, “It seems Mr. Collins took it upon himself to go for a walk this morning. He has not yet returned.”
After further inquiries and assurances regarding Elizabeth’s health, Darcy rose to take his leave. “I must return Sir William’s horse,” he explained. “He may have urgent use for the stallion.”
With a courteous bow, he excused himself, urging Bingley to remain behind and not to alter his plans on his account.
As Darcy rode on, his thoughts returned to Elizabeth’s demeanor during their visit. She had scarcely met his gaze, and though her tone remained calm and respectful, there was a reluctance in her words that he could not ignore. What sort of marriage could this be if such an attitude persisted? Whatever her feelings towards him, Darcy was certain that she had not yet softened her opinion. He found himself once more lamenting the harsh words he had spoken about her at the assembly. Though he had now acted to protect her when necessity demanded it, he realized now that he had not truly apologized for his conduct. He had offered assistance in her moment of need and proposed marriage out of a sense of duty, yet he had never addressed the injury his words had caused. Perhaps, if he were to express genuine contrition, she might no longer regardhim with such disdain. Darcy resolved that, upon his return to Netherfield before departing for London, he would seek her forgiveness.
Upon arriving at Lucas Lodge, Darcy dismounted and returned the horse to Sir William, thanking him for lending him the animal.
The older man greeted him with a knowing smile. Charlotte Lucas, having arrived earlier from Longbourn had told him all about the latest gossip at the Bennets. “I have heard the news, Mr. Darcy—Meryton is abuzz with it. How you saved Miss Bennet, and of course, the unfortunate rumours that followed. But you must know, I admire your decision to marry Miss Elizabeth. It is the honourable course.”
Darcy inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you, Sir William. I am determined to protect Miss Bennet’s honour, and to that end, I must travel to London to secure a special license, so that the marriage may take place without delay. It is for this reason that I wished to return your horse promptly before I take my leave."
Sir William’s face brightened with an idea. “As it happens, I am well acquainted with the Archbishop in London. If you wish, I can pen a letter to him on your behalf. I am certain he will expedite the process, and this will save you from making such a journey.”
Darcy considered this offer for a moment, then nodded in appreciation. “That is most generous of you, Sir William. I would be grateful for your assistance.”
With arrangements made, Darcy expressed his thanks once more and departed. Now, he only had to send the letter he wrote to Georgiana, write one to Elizabeth and allow fate take its course.
Chapter 12
Four days later, as the sun began to reach its full brilliance, a rider arrived at Longbourn, bearing a letter addressed to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Mrs. Bennet, her hopes high for romantic progression, intercepted the missive with a gleam of eager anticipation in her eye.
“A letter for you, Lizzy!” she exclaimed, handing it to her daughter with a knowing smile. “From Mr. Darcy, no less. How romantic! A letter before breakfast!”
Elizabeth accepted the letter with a blend of slight reluctance and curiosity. Why should Mr. Darcy feel the need to write to her? What could his letter possibly contain? These questions swirled in her mind as she offered her mother a polite smile, then quietly withdrew to the privacy of her own bedchamber. Jane, her face marked by gentle concern, followed close behind.
Once inside, Elizabeth broke the seal and began to read, her eyes scanning the familiar, precise handwriting:
My dear Miss Bennet,
I trust that this letter finds you in better spirits and that your leg has healed fully. It is with a heavy heart that I write to you, for I have come to realize that in all that has transpired, I have yet to offer you a true apology for the hurt I have caused.
My behaviour at the assembly was inexcusable. I allowed myself to be governed by emotions that I scarcely understood at the time. My words were harsh and unworthy of you, and I can only attribute them to the confusion and turmoil that seized me in that moment. I have never been comfortable in crowded assemblies, and the falsehoods being spread about me—particularly the rumour that I had come to Longbourn with the intention of proposing—served only to heighten my agitation. I know now that these are poor excuses for the way I spoke to you, and I am sincerely sorry.
Moreover, I deeply regret that my intended subsequent actions have placed you in a situation where your honour is in question. This was never my intention, and I am burdened with the knowledge that our engagement is now a matter of necessity rather than choice. Please believe me when I say that I did not intend to compromise you in any way.
I ask only that you might find it within yourself to forgive me, and that in doing so, you might look beyond any prejudice and see me for the man I truly am. I do not seek to excuse my actions but rather to express my genuine remorse for the distress they have caused you.
I also wish to inform you that Sir. William Lucas has kindly offered to write to the Archbishop of London to expedite the issuance of a special license for our marriage. It is my hope that, once the wedding takes place, it will put an end to the rumours that have begun to circulate in Meryton.
Yours sincerely,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth read the letter twice, her feelings a tumultuous mixture of confusion, indignation, and a faint stirring of something she could not quite name. Darcy's words were far from what she had expected, and though they did little toerase her resentment, they added a layer of complexity to her thoughts. While she was surprised that he had chosen to write at all, Elizabeth could not help but feel that his letter was more a product of duty than of genuine remorse. After all, that seemed precisely the sort of man Mr. Darcy was. If he were genuine, why hadn’t he sent the letter earlier or even visited since his last appearance? “Lizzy, what does it say?” Jane asked softly, her concern for her sister evident in every word.
Elizabeth handed her the letter, allowing Jane to read it for herself. When Jane finished, she looked up with an expression of sympathy mixed with hope.
“He seems truly sorry, Lizzy. Perhaps he is not as proud as we thought.”
